Sales-check holdeb



R. E. BEAUBIEN.

SALES CHECK HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1917.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

V kJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. BEAUBIEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB. TO JAKE 8. ms, 03' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SALES-CHECK HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. BEAUBIEN, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sales- Check Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of .the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to devices for holding and notching meal checks or the like, its general objects being to provide an unusual, simple, self-contained and easily manipulated device for firmly holding a tab of checks and for indenting the checks at any desired points thereon. In restaurants or the like it has long been customary for each waitress to carry both a pad of checks each imprinted with a series of figures covering the usual range of meal prices, and a punch for perforating each check at one of these imprinted figures. For this purpose, the checks are commonly stacked in given quantities after being scored or indented transversely near one end, and are then stapled together near the said end, thus forming tabs from which each successive check may be detached along the perforated line. Such tabs have been commonly carried in holders arranged for interlocking with the stapled or stub end of the tabs, each holder being attached to a belt and each detached check being perforated opposite the desired amount by means of a separately carried punch. To retain the unused checks in the holder when detaching each successive one, the stub end of each tab or pad has usually been latched in the holder by complex means, including pivoted catches or even key-controlled latch, thus involving considerable expense and weight.

As a substitute for these older contrivances, my invention aims to provide a holder into which a tab of checks may be inserted, and from which it may be withdrawn, without manipulating any latches or pivoted members, and one affording simple and effective means for retaining the tab in the holder so as to resist the strains implied by the detaching of the separate checks. It also aims to equip the holder with simple means for notching an edge portion of a detached check, and preferably to so dispose the cheok notching means that it may be manipulated without lnjury to the fingers of the waiter and without turnin the holder out of its normal position. re particularly, my invention also aims to provide a device of the class described in which the tab-latchingmeans, the check-notching means and the gage for guiding the check while being notched, as well as the suspension loop for supporting the entire appliance are all made i with the main portion of the holder; and also to provide common means for gaging the checks with respect to the notching means and for retaining the check-tab in the holder. Furthermore, my invention aims to provide simple and easily manipulated means for indenting or weakening the check along lines defining the edges of the proposed notch, so as to facilitate a clean cutting of the notch; also, to utilize the ends of the staple which units the separate checks into a pad, for facilitating the firm retaining of the pad in the holdet. Still other objects will appear from the 01- lowing specification and from the accompanying drawings, in which drawi Figures 1, 2 and 3 are front, s' e and rear views of a device embodying my invention, showing the same as holding a pad of checks.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of the lower portion of the device, showing a check in position for notching the same.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a check, showing the notch as formed with my device.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged and central longitudinal section through the upper portion of Fig. 1, showing how one portion of my hoklding means engages the staple on the ta Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the check-gaging steps, taken along the center line of the element 7 in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the drawings, the device of my invention comprises a. sheet metal member bent twice at one end to afford a relatively short front 1 connected by a top 2 to a back 3, which back is preferably longer than the checks to be used with this device. Intel-posed between the front 1 and the upper portion of the back 3, and preferably integral with the said by any downward pull. gripping all the more effective, I prefer-- back, is a spring tongue 4 bent somewhat toward the said front and hence adapted to clamp a check tab or pad 5 between'the front and the said tongue. The tip of the tongue 4 is preferably spaced from the top 2 by a distance slightly longer than the distance between the upper or stub end of the checks and the wire staple 6 which fastens the checks into a single pad, so that this tip will snap under the exposed portion of the staple when the pad is inserted (as shown in Fig. 6) and hence will securely hold the pad against withdrawal To make this ably incline the front 1 slightly toward the lower end of the back 3, but not as much'so as the inclination of thetongue However, 'the front 1 desirably has a" silient metal and preferably formed in tegral with the back 3 and with its pointed tip extending downward and exposed below the lower end of the check pad 5. This shearing tongue normally is flexed somewhat away from the adjacent part of the back 3, so as to permit of inserting a single check between the same as shown in dotted lines in-Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 4. Then, upon holding the tip of this tongue against the face of the check and then moving the check flatwise away from the back 3, the tongue will shear out-a triangular portion of the check, substantially as shown shown in Fig. 5, thus notching'the check to indicate the desired markingon the same. To insure a clean and sharp shearing cut, I preferably form both the tip of the tongue 7 and the sides of the perforation from which this tip was punched with sharp cutting edges, so that a squeezing of the check between the tip of the tongue and the back 8 will tend to force a part of the check into the perforation and thereby will indent or weaken the check along the lines defining the proposed V-shaped notch. To gage the depth of this notch, I provide a pair of stops disposed respectively at opposite sides of the tip of the shearing tongue, which stops preferably consist of lugs 9 formed from the back 3 but bent upwardly so as to afford square stops for the edge of the Check. It will be obvious from Fig. 7

that the upper edge of these stops affords rounding junctures with the back 3 which would tend to curve the edge of the check if approached from above, thereby permitting an irregularity of the gaging which I avoid. I also preferably locate these stops 9 at a distance from the top 2 slightly greater than the length of the check pad, so

that these stops will engage thelower end of the pad in case the staple should be improperly positioned for interlocking v with the tip of the locking tongue 4 as above de scribed.

For fastening the device of my invention to a chain or the like, I provide a suspension loop 10, desirably integral with the top 2 and substantially central of the latter.

It will be obvious from the above that my entire check-holding and notching device can be cheaply constructed from a single piece of metal, that a check tab can readily be inserted by simply tilting it as shown'in' purpose in mind, I preferably-space the stops 9 from the tip of the upper tongue 4 by a distance slightly greater than the distance from the staple in the tab to thelower end of the latter, thereby allowing for irregularities in the stapling and leaving the tongue 4 to effect the holding under ordinary circumstances. happen to have thestaple inserted too high on the same, or if the repeated manipulation of the tab during thecheck notching should cause'the tip of'the tongues to dig into the tab and should slide the tab clownward in the holder, the lower end of the tab will engage the stops 9 and these steps will limit such a downward sliding of the tab.

So also, the stops 9 will prevent the tab of checks from being rocked about the staple as a pivot during the handling of the appliance, that the inserted pad or the remaining stub thereof can readily he slid sidewise out of the holder (since both edges of the substantially U-sectioned holder are open), that the stops 9 afford positive gages for defining the depth of the pro posed notch, and that the notching can be:

Then if a tab should j effected without handling a punch or other auxiliary implement and even without reversing the holder. Moreover, the notching tongue can readily be pressedagainst the inserted loose checkby pressing against the to be'notched and for limiting a possible downward sliding of the check pad, I do not wish to be limited to this or other detalls of the constructlon or arrangement here disclosed, it being obvious that the same might be modified in many ways with-.

out departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the notching might be done with the appliance of my invention by simply pressing the sharp tongue 7 against the inserted single check with sufficient force so that the sides ofthe tongue will eooperate with those of the perforation from which the tongue was formed, in shearing a portion out of the check, thus carrying the indenting or weakenin to the point of entirely severing a part rom the check.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a check-notching device, a support having a sharp-edged resilient tongue struck therefrom and normally disposed out of the plane of the support to permit the insertion of a check therebetween; and means fast upon the support for holding a plurality of checks with portions thereof overlapping the said tongue whereby the tongue may be pressed towar the part of the support from which it was formed, by pressure against the said checks.

2. A holder for a staple-joined pad of checks, comprising a metal plate recurved at one end to provide a ledge forwardly overhanging an end of said pad; a air of forwardly and relatively opposite y directed yielding tongues both carried by the plate and both continuously engaging the back of the pad, one of the tongues being disposed for engaging the staple on the pad to retain the said end of the pad within the recurved portion of the metal plate, and the other tongue having sharp edge formations whereby this tongue is adapted to mark a check inserted between it and an adjacent part of the metal plate.

3. A combined check holder and notcher comprising a holder equipped for grasping one end of a pad of checks, and a notcher having its pressure-receiving portion yieldingly disposed between the pad and a part of the holder, the said notcher presenting its check-notching portion beyond the pad and normally disposed for permitting the insertion of a loose check between the said check-notching portion and the said part of the holder, and means for limiting the said insertion of a loose check to a position outwardly beyond the pad.

4. A combined check holder and marker comprising a holder equipped for grasping one end of a pad of checks, a resilient tongue secured at one end to the holder and having a sharp-edged tip adapted to notch a loose check and normally spaced from an adjacent holder portion transversely of the surface of the latter to permit the insertion of a loose check therebetween, the said tip being relatively small and disposed beyond the pad of checks and the tongue having a portion of relatively large surface disposed between the pad of checks and the holder, whereby the said tongue is adapted to be pressed against the loose check b widel distributed digital pressure appli throng the pad of checks.

5. A holder for a tab of sales checks, comprising integral formation a metal piate bent flatwise into a substantially U-shaped section to afl'ord a socket for receiving the upper end of the tab, and a resilient tongue formed from one shank of the said Umhaped socket intermediate the ends of said shank and presenting a tip extending between the shanks of the U for locking the upper end of the tab in the said socket, the said tongue being integral with the shank from which it is formed and being narrowed back of its tip to increase its flexibility.

6. A holder for a tab of sales checks, comprising a metal plate bent flatwise into a. substantially U-shaped section with the shanks of the U respectively shorter and longer than the tab and with the bend of the U adapted to receive one end of the tab, check notching means mounted upon the longer shank of the U and efiectively disposed beyond the other end of the tab, and common means for gaging the check-notching means and for limiting the movement of the tab away from the bend of the U.

7. A holder for a tab of sales checks, comprising a back plate longer than the tab, means for clamping one end of the tab when placed upon the back plate, and yielding check-notching means and rigid stops both fast upon the back plate and both 0peratively disposed upon the forward face of the latter, the notching means being operable by pressure on the tab, whereby the check-notching may be effected without reversing the holder.

8. A holder for a tab of checks, comprising a back including two members of unequal effective lengths extending in the same general direction as the tab, at least one of the said back members being resilient to permit a relative movement thereof with respect to the other, the longer of the said back members having a sharp-ed (1 perforation and the shorter back mem I having a tongue cooperating with the said perforation upon an approaching of these 116 members to notch a check interposed therebetween, the back being longer than the tab to permit such check-notching to be efiected beyond the end of a tab held thereby.

9. A combined check holder and marker 120 comprisin a holder equipped for grasping one end 0 a pad of checks; and a pair of coacting check-notching members both carried by the holder and having their main portions in relatively overlapped disposi- 185 tion behind the pad of checks, and having their cooperating check-notching portions projecting be 0nd the said pad and yieldingly spaced om each other, the main portions of the said members being adapted 180 to be moved toward each other bypressure sharp-edged tongue carried by one of the applied between one of the said members said members and projecting beyond the said and the front face ofthe pad of checks for pad and adapted to clamp a detached check causing the-said check-notching portions to between the tongue and the front of the 15 coact, whereby a loose check may be inother member, and gaging means carried by serted and notched between the said notchone of the members for gaging the position ing portions without reversing the holder. of the detached check when presented for 10. A combined holder and marker for a the clamping. pad of checks comprising two relatively Signed at Chicago, November 12th, 191-7. 20 movable members having their main portions normally disposed behind the pad, a ROBERT E. BEAUBIEN. 

